6

Chapter 6

I took a quick shower and dressed up. Standing in front of the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The dress hugged me in all the right places, and my hair was done in a ponytail with ribbons, giving me a youthful glow.

"Perfect!" Jessy and Mia both smiled at me.

We left around nine o’clock. The party venue was set in the woods, at the infamous fire pit. As we approached, the flickering flames cast an orange glow over the crowd. The air was thick with the scent of burning wood and the sound of laughter, cheers, and loud music.

It was just a tent-like cabin made with words from the 1980s and since our school has been for ages, it was made for students in those days and now was slightly refurbished for the new generation students to use. Like us...

At the center of the pit, was a huge burning fire. Everywhere was beautiful and noisy.

The fire pit was surrounded by students. Boys and girls danced, drank, and flirted with each other, while others threw beer cans and acted like fools. 

"Ugh, a bunch of prostitutes!" Mia sneered, pulling out a cigarette. "Want some?" she asked, holding it out to me.

I shook my head. "No, thanks."

She wandered off, probably to find a spot to smoke, while Jessy’s eyes were locked on Dan, her second crush since high school. He was clearly drunk, stumbling around like an idiot.

"I’ll catch up with you guys later," she said, biting her lip and hurrying off toward him.

And just like that, I was alone. I sighed, walking over to an empty chair and sitting down. "One glass of wine, please," I called to the waiter. He handed it to me, and I took a sip, trying to relax in the chaos around me.

But then, I heard something. Angry voices coming from behind the tent. With my wolf hearing, tilted my head slightly, straining my ears. It was Nikki... and Dimitri.

"I broke up with my girlfriend and my betrothed for you! You promised me we'd be together, and that you'd persuade your father to make me team captain!" Dimitri’s voice was angry, almost desperate.

I could hear Nikki scoff. "Please, Dimitri. I never promised you anything. And besides, do you really think I’m going to settle for a co-captain? You’re pathetic." Her words dripped with cruelty.

“Oh yeah, any guy? How about Paxton then? Everyone knows that he broke up with you for that same girlfriend of mine. So shy don't you go out there and ask him for a dance since apparently you get to choose the litter!” Dimitri yelled.

I felt a pang of something in my chest—was it pity for Dimitri? No, I had to remind myself who he was and what he did to me.

Footsteps approached, and before I could look away, Nikki stopped right in front of me. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe with a sneer.

"At least if you’re going to eavesdrop, don’t make it so obvious," she spat, flipping her hair and walking toward the fire pit where Paxton stood surrounded by girls. Mia was among them, of course, fawning over him like everyone else.

"Hey, Paxton!" Nikki called out in a voice that made me cringe. She sashayed over to him, swaying her hips like she was on a runway.

I couldn’t help but scoff. *As if.* 

The girls around Paxton left one by one, probably sensing Nikki’s territorial vibe. She moved closer to him, resting a hand on his arm.

“Hey.” Paxton responded and just as I tried to hide my fave, his eyes flickered to me over Nikki's shoulder. Oh no! I think he is looking at my soul again but it was over quickly as he returned his gaze to Nikki.

"Wanna dance? It’s been a while since I’ve had a real dance at one of these parties," she purred.

Paxton looked annoyed, taking a swig of his beer. "Nikki, we’re done. We broke up. You’re not my mate anymore." His tone was cold, dismissive.

Nikki, refusing to back down, pressed her body closer. "Don’t tell me you don’t miss this," she said, gesturing to her body. She was wearing a g-string and a light handkerchief was tied around her waist but the g-string is still transparent. Then with a bra pushing up her breast.

Paxton shrugged her off, turning his attention back to the group. Nikki stormed away, and as she did, Paxton’s gaze found mine across the fire. His eyes flickered with something dark, something intense. My heart pounded as our eyes locked.

I quickly dropped my glass of wine, the tension was  too much. I needed to get out of there. Away from him. Away from everything. This time, his alpha red eyes are glowing causing cold shivers and fear down my spine.

I quickly dropped my glass of wine and walked away to the back of the cabin where only fewer people are.

I have to be alone by myself, at least, away from him and hopefully when I return, he shouldn't be there...

I can't stand a minute with him.

Hi Hailey.

My soul left me at the sound of Paxton's deep voice. It sent a shiver down my spine, and I gulped nervously, turning around as slowly as I could manage.

 My heart sank when I saw him, bare-chested, just in shorts, his tattoos exposed, muscles rippling in the dim light. There was something dangerous in the way he stood, like the shadows clung to him, making him seem more menacing.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything—but no words came. My instinct screamed at me to leave, to run, but before I could even take a step, Paxton blocked my path. His broad frame stood in front of me, leaving no room for escape.

“Why are you avoiding me?” His voice softened, but I could hear the edge in it, the hurt he was trying to mask. My eyes caught a glimpse of Jessy dancing with Dan in the distance.

“I’m not avoiding you,” I lied, trying to sound convincing, though I knew it was obvious. It had been all I could think about—keeping my distance from him, from the mess this would surely become.

He scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “It sure feels like it. You disappeared so fast last night.” His eyes locked onto mine, and I froze.

“What do you want me to say?” I asked, forcing myself to stay calm, though my heart was pounding out of control.

Paxton’s jaw tightened. “I want to know why you’re pushing me away.”

I took a deep breath, feeling my nerves steady just a little. “You got what you wanted, Paxton. You had your one night stand with me. Isn’t that how it always goes? You don’t see girls more than once. And now you’re suddenly claiming me as your mate? Come on, Paxton, let’s not pretend here. I’m doing you a favor by avoiding you, making it easier for both of us.”

His face darkened at my words, and his voice turned cold. “Is that what you think of me?”

For a second, I hesitated, but then I reminded myself of all the things I’d heard, all the stories about him. “Everyone knows who you are, Paxton. You’re the playboy who never sticks around. You sleep with girls once and then move on.”

Before I could react, his hands gripped my waist and pulled me closer, his breath warm my neck. 

My heart slammed into my chest, and I could barely breathe as he stared down at me, his gaze intense, his lips brushing my ear.

“Well, you’re different,” he whispered, and I can't help it, I want him badly.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Different?” How could I possibly be different? Was this some twisted joke? Was this all just to humiliate me, to make me believe I was special before tossing me aside like everyone else?

But there was something in his voice, in the way he held me, that made me pause. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t playing games. That maybe, just maybe, he meant it.

Before I could speak, Paxton drew closer, his lips on my neck as he whispered, “Hailey, I want you… for the second time. You’re mine.”

I shivered as his words sunk in. This couldn’t be real. I felt the possessiveness in his touch, And the worst part? I wasn’t sure if I could resist him anymore.